Published online Apr 16, 2021. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v9.i11.2446
Peer-review started: December 25, 2020
First decision: January 17, 2021
Revised: January 25, 2021
Accepted: February 25, 2021
Article in press: February 25, 2021
Published online: April 16, 2021
Processing time: 98 Days and 3.3 Hours
Colonoscopy within 24 h of hospital admission for colonic diverticular bleeding (CDB) is recommended. However, little is known about rates of rebleeding within 30 d. We posited that a group of patients who underwent contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) within 4 h of the last hematochezia and colonoscopy within 24 h would experience fewer incidences of rebleeding.
To evaluate the outcomes of early colonoscopy for CDB among different groups of patients.
Data from 182 patients with CDB who underwent contrast-enhanced CT and colonoscopy between January 2011 and December 2018 at the study site were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were divided into groups based on the timing of the CT imaging, within or at 4 h were defined as urgent CTs (n = 100) and those performed after 4 h were defined as elective CTs (n = 82). Main outcomes included rebleeding within 30 d and the identification of stigmata of recent hemorrhage (SRH) (i.e., active bleeding, non-bleeding visible vessels, or adherent clots).
In total, 182 patients (126 men and 56 women) with median ages of 68.6 (range, 37-92) and 73.7 (range, 48-93) years, respectively, underwent CT imaging and colonoscopy within 24 h of the last hematochezia. Patients for whom CT was performed within 4 h of the last hematochezia were included in the urgent CT group (n = 100) and patients for whom CT was performed after 4 h were included in the elective CT group (n = 82). SRH were identified in 35.0% (35/100) of the urgent CT cases and 7.3% (6/82) of the elective CT cases (P < 0.01). Among all patients with extravasation-positive images on CT, SRH was identified in 31 out of 47 patients (66.0%) in the urgent CT group and 4 out of 20 patients (20.0%) in the elective CT group (P < 0.01). Furthermore, rates of rebleeding within 30 d were significantly improved in the urgent CT and extravasation-positive cases (P < 0.05). Results from the evaluation of early colonoscopy did not show a difference in the ability to detect SRH identification or rebleeding rates. Only cases by urgent CT reduced risk of rebleeding due to the evidence of active bleeding on the image.
To improve rates of rebleeding, colonoscopy is recommended within 24 h in patients with extravasation-positive CT images within 4 h of the last hema-tochezia. Otherwise, elective colonoscopy can be performed.
Core Tip: While colonoscopy within 24 h of hospital admission for colonic diverticular bleeding (CDB) is recommended, there is no evidence of improved rates of rebleeding within 30 d. This study aimed to evaluate outcomes of early colonoscopy for CDB. Results indicate that rebleeding significantly improved in patients with extravasation-positive computed tomography images taken within 4 h of the last hematochezia (P < 0.05). Clinicians are advised to utilize contrast-enhanced computed tomography within 4 h of active CDB to detect extravasation-positive cases. For these patients, colonoscopy is recommended within 24 h to reduce the risk of rebleeding.